[Taxacom] ICZN position on Darwinius

[Geoff Read]

One major reason there is distrust over electronic publication, and
traditional paper printing is seen as the best method, is that it is
thought possible to change the original content of the electronic at any
time. Some big journal publishers routinely do it with their ad hoc
custom-built pdfs of journal articles, complete with date, requesting
institution, etc.  This is not something I know much about, but if there
was a way of certifying the original text was unaltered (and there
probably is - along the lines of http://www.adobecds.com/), so that (e.g.)
cowboy self-publishers couldn't sneakily 'upgrade' their works later, I
doubt  there would be so much agonizing over going electronic as a medium
for taxonomy.


--
Geoffrey B. Read, Ph.D.
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
gread at actrix.gen.nz